The Irish standard., 1887-07-09
THE OLD SCHOOL.

It was an old log school house, stand
ing back from the countrv road, with
the creepers twining over the face of it,
and the branches of an elm interlacing
above it. The robins had nested in the
crevices under the roof for SO loag that
they had forgotten when they had
known and other home. Years and years
ago bare-footed boys and sun-bonneted
girls had climbed over the stile and had
sat all the long day with feet dangling
from the high, hard benches. That
morning in August the old school-house
assumed jaunty expression, ill-suited
to it's Scared visage; it suggested a de-
crepit Old man reaching backward with
one hand to grasp the pleasures Of boy
hood while the other touched the latch
string of immortality's door.
The birds sang low. the soft splash of
the brook came family; the drip, drip
of the sweet spring water ran an under
tone with the rustling leaves. Above all
there was borne the sounds of voices,
subdued and tremulous in tender minor
tones. The children were coming back
to school. They came by twos and
threes and climbed over the rickety
stile with a slowness and weakness not
of childhood, They sat on the benches
which were as they knew them forty
years ago. Tie master who ferruled
them in those good old days took his
place behind the desk, and the "old
school," quaint Indiana reuni01, was
begun. The masters hands trembled
as he unfolded the yellow roll-call. His
voice faltered as he called the first
name: "Hiram. Brown" A white
haired man from the back row answered
clearly, here" Yet even as he spoke
his eyes filled with tears, for there on
the battered desk was a roughly carved
heart, holding the initials Of his 'boyish
love. Through young manhood and
golden middle life she had been his help
and now-'t absent. - Unanswered low to
her name. There were eyes cast down
and stray sunbeam lighted UP pre-
cious dewdrops of sympathy on wrimkled
cheeks.
"Seth Green" -.
But Seth was absent. A while before
there had come to him messenger
from far-off country with promises of
peace and rest and Joy; and so Seth,
who had grown weary of funrecompensed
labor, followed willingly.
"Catherine Clark" f" the master read.
present. a sweet, quavering voice
replied, present, bless the Lord for his
good mercies, but Daniel, he's went
where school keeps allus."
''America Reed" And the masters
own voice added: absent forever
MORE" The silvery head bowed on the
desk; the withered hands tightly
clasped each other; for from among the
old fashioned flowers he had culled the
fairest for himself, and while yet the
dew of youth and love lay on them both,
she had Welded her sweetness for ce-
lestial growth.
Through the long record the master
read slowly. Sometimes there were
smiles at some memory, but often tears;
and now these faded, wrinkled children
sat waiting for the final roll-call. The
dull ears were strained to catch the first
football of the one Trustee. The truants
came tagging in.
The old master grew strangely white.
His lips quivered and looked drawn.
The eyes gazed upward, seeing through
the rifted sunlight into the peace be-
yond.
The pupils drew near to witness the
explanation of deaths problem. Pres
emily the drawn face became calm; the
eyes filed with the glory of life's sun
set; the lips parted, and the master.
standing on the boundary line between
yesterday and forever, linked them to-
gether by the sorrowing present.
ssFirst class in addition" he called;
lone here plus many there equals
wbat?" He waited with the old-time
patience, then gently gave Lne answer
himself. ''Joy is the result, my child;
perfect JOY in the heavens"
''Second class in division
No one stirred. A bird flew in at the
open window. It circled about and
alighted on the old mans arm. "Take
one from among you and what is the
result?'' then without a pause: "a little
while to wait-just a little. while; a lit
tie folding of the hands to Sleep"
First class in reading" But the
master held the book himself. He read
by faith, God bless him! Come unto
me, ye weary and heavy-laden, and I
willgive you rest.'' The white lips muir
INJURED ''restt, dear rest!'
A sigh, and the "old school" was dis
missed. The master had resigned for a
place where there is no truancy, no
failure in lessons, no hardness. The
pupils came down the path to meet him
with welcoming hands and youthful
step.
Some vet await the calling of their